The temple tour to Ujjain
promoted by tourism of Madhya Pradesh, facilitates a visit in
Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. Travel to Ujjain and visit
Mahakaleshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is held
sacred, as one of the 12 jyotirlingas is enshrined here.

Timings- The temple follows two timings. Firstly from the
month Chaitraya to Ashwin and from Kartik to Falgun

Chaitraya to Ashwin (April – November)

Morning – 04:00 am to 10:30 am

Evening – 05:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Karthik to Falgun (mid November to mid April)

Morning- 07:30 am to 11:00 am

Evening- 05:30 pm to 11:00 pm

Mahakaleshwar temple in the arid plains of Ujjain is one
of the most holy and at the same sacrosanct place of worship. Dedicated to the
Lord Shiva (destroyer in the holy triune) this temple and its efficacy finds
mentioned in the works of India’s best loved poet Kalidasa. Another reason and
invariably the pivotal reason for the devotion and the efficacy surrounding this
temple is the swayambhu Linga or the self manifested Jyotirlinga. This can well
be called the source and the summit of all observances and beliefs. In India
there are 12 such places wherein one can find a Jyothirlinga and Ujjain’s
Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga is one such blessed location.

Mahakaleshwar Temple Aarti- The first things that comes to
mind or the first that locals advise those visiting the temple for the first
time is to partake in the Mahakaleshwar Temple Aarti. The “Bhasm Aarti” is an
important ritual that is followed here. This is the first ritual that is
conducted everyday first thing in the morning. This is followed by the solemn
ceremony of Sringar which involves anointing and robbing the Lord. Then the
first aarti is offered. Aarti is the offering to the diety by circulating lamps
and incense. An important part of this daily ritual is Bhasm or funeral ash
which is offered to the diety. The reason for this observance being that Lord
Shiva is the destroyer or the God of death and hence funeral ash is used. Until
and unless the funeral ash does not reach the temple the morning aarti is not
performed. The form of worship that is observed also points out to the
inseparable facts of life and death. The main diety enshrined the temple is
Dakshinamuthi. A name that means the southward facing idol.

Mahakaleshwar Temple architecture

The temple is a three storied building. In the lower
middle and the uppermost part of the temple are installed lingams of
Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwara and Nagachandraveshwara. While the first two lingas
can be seen by visitors and faithful every day, the Nagachandraveshwara linga is
kept for public veneration only on Naga Panchami day. A large sized Kunda known
as Koti that exists in the temple. The Kunda and the waters are treated as
sacred and celestial. In keeping with ancient temple there are also a number of
carvings that herald the spiritual grandeur of the Mahakelshwar Temple. In the
east of the Kunda there is a large verandah that has depictions of the Lord Rama
and Avantika. While in the southern side of the main shrine or sanctum of the
temple there is small Shaivite temples which are remarkable examples of
architectural styles. The Linga of the Mahakelshwar in the Gariba Griha or the
Inner sanctum is colossus. The silver plated Naga Jaldhari and silver plated
roofing of the temple which is adorns the sanctum. Besides the Lingam there are
statues of the Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya and Goddess Parvati that complete the
inner sanctum. The walls of the inner sanctum are adorned with eulogies of
praise to the Lord Shiva.

Mahakaleshwar Temple History

It is very difficult to ascertain the actual date or the
year in which the temple was constructed. While it is attributed that the temple
was constructed by Prajapati Brahma. Ancient writings point out the temple was
one of the most magnanimous and at the same time commanding structures of the
time. Built in stone and supported by wodden beams, this temple was hallowed and
at the same time the most revered. So much so that poet Kalidasa referred to
this temple as Niketan. There are no shikaras in the original structure of the
temple. The changes to the same were made during the time of Gupta era. However
it is noted that during the Paramara era there were a serious of problems that
land of Ujjain faced. It was during this time that the temple was destroyed by
Muslim invasion Iltumish. The present structure of the temple was however built
by Srimant Raanojirao Schindia in 1736. After independence the Dev Sthan Temple
was replaced by the municipal corporation of India and is now under the purview
of the district collectorate.

How to Reach Mahakaleshwar temple

By Air- Nearest airport is Indore International Airport
(53 km) away

By Rail- The Ujjain railway Station is connected to major
cities of the country both in the western, eastern as well as southern line